Method for manufacturing piezo-electric vibrator

ABSTRACT

A piezo-electric vibrator having an electrode structure enabling to avoid unevenness of junction is to be provided. Plural electrode patterns  160  consisting of a pair of exciting electrode films  80  and  81  formed on a crystal vibrator  110  and frame electrodes  38  and  39  formed on each frame-shaped portion  100  and connected to a pair of exciting electrode films  80  and  81  are formed, and course adjusting of frequency is carried out. After that, plural electrode patterns consisting of a pair of exciting electrodes  80  and  81  formed on each crystal vibrator piece  110  and joining films  40  and  41  formed on each frame-shaped portion  100  and connected to the pair of exciting electrode films  80  and  81  in which each of them is shorted is formed on a crystal wafer  130  forming plural vibrators  20  consisting of the crystal vibrator piece  110  and the frame-shaped portion  100  again so as to carry out anode junction by making applying voltage possible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a piezo-electric vibrator used for a portable telephone, a portable information terminal and so on.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] The conventional piezo-electric vibrator has, for example, a structure providing a pair of a lid and a base having a hollow portion having a space in which vibration of a piezo-electric vibrator piece is not disturbed at upper and lower faces of the vibrator consisting of the piezo-electric vibrator piece and a frame-shaped portion formed integratedly at the base end portion thereof.

[0005] An electrode pattern of an exciting electrode film and the like formed on the individual vibrator piece gets an electric characteristic by making the vibrator piece excite individually in the case of mass production of wafer units by forming plural members of the above piezo-electric vibrators on a wafer of large area. As a result, each of these electrode patterns need to be arranged independently.

[0006] In such structure, the independent electrode pattern of the wafer forming plural vibrators is adjusted by getting the characteristic of the individual vibrator piece at adopting a method joining members at high temperature and applying voltage, putting a junction film between the members such as anode junction. After that, a spattered film for short enabling to join to the lid body is added in order to short each electrode pattern. Thus, all electrode patterns are connected and power is supplied to junction films of both faces of a substrate at the same time so as to join.

[0007]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of each component of a lid, a vibrator, and a base constructing the conventional piezo-electric vibrator. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper face of the conventional piezo-electric vibrator. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the conventional piezo-electric vibrator.

[0008] As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional piezo-electric vibrator is a vibrator having a vibrator piece 110 of tuning fork type consisting of crystal (SiO₂) for example, and provides a vibrator 20 having the vibrator piece 110, and a lid 10 and a base 30 being a pair of lid bodies sealing airtightly the vibrator piece 110 in the state enabling to vibrate by being joined by both faces of the vibrator 20. The conventional vibrator 20 has the vibrator piece 110 of tuning fork type and the frame-shaped portion 100 connected to the base end portion thereof integratedly and surrounding the periphery of the vibrator piece 110 as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the lid 10 and the base 30 being a pair of lid bodies are formed by soda lime glass and the like for example, and have a hollow cavity 90 forming a space in which vibration of the vibrator piece 110 is not disturbed at an area corresponding to the vibrator piece 110 respectively.

[0010] In the vibrator 20 joining such the lid 10 and the base 30, an exiting electrode film 80 for vibrating the vibrator piece 110 and an exiting electrode film 81 having a different polarity from the exiting electrode film 80 are formed at two faces of the front and the back and sides as shown in FIG. 3. Further, joining films 40 and 41 consisting of the same material as the exiting electrode films 80 and 81 and being actual junction portions between the lid 10 and the base 30 are provided at an area corresponding to the frame-shaped portion 100.

[0011] The lid 10 and the base 30 are joined to the upper and lower faces of the vibrator 20 using these joining films 40 and 41 by so-called anode junction described in detail later.

[0012] In the manufacturing process of the above conventional vibrator, plurality of vibrators 20, lids 10, and bases 30 shown in FIG. 1 are formed on a wafer using etching by photolithography. AS shown in FIG. 4, the vibrators 20 are formed on a sheet of crystal wafer 130 being a first wafer. The vibrator 20 is constructed by a frame-shaped portion 100, plural vibrator pieces 110 and the like. That is, plural vibrators 20 are formed integratedly on the crystal wafer 130. At the same time, a through-hole 121 is formed between crystal vibrator pieces 110 at longitudinal direction of the vibrator piece 110, and inner face of the through-hole 121 becomes a part of the side face of vibrator 20 after cutting the crystal wafer 130.

[0013] The lid 10 and base 30 are formed on glass wafers consisting of soda lime glass for example respectively. Plural hollow cavities 90 are formed on these wafers using etching by photolithography corresponding to each vibrator piece 110 of the crystal wafer 130. That is, plural lids 10 are formed integratedly on a glass wafer being a second wafer, and plural bases 30 are formed integratedly on a glass wafer being a third wafer. At the same time, a through-hole larger than the through-hole 121 of the crystal wafer 130 are formed at a part corresponding to the through-hole 121 of the crystal wafer 130 being the first wafer of the third wafer, and inner face of the through-hole formed at the third glass wafer becomes a part 122 of the side face of the base 30 after cutting the glass wafer.

[0014] The exciting electrode films 80 and 81 of the upper and lower faces and side face of vibrator piece 110 of vibrator 20, joining films 40 and 41 of upper and lower faces of the frame-shaped portion 100, and an ejecting electrode 50 of the base end portion of the crystal vibration piece 110 are formed by the same spattered film formed on whole surface of the crystal wafer 130 as shown in FIG. 4. Although Al, Cr, and alloy of these and the like are used for material of the spattered film, Al is used for forming in the related art. Patterning the Al spattered film by photolithography, electrodes of the exciting electrodes 80 and 81, the ejecting electrode 50, etc. and electrode patterns consisting of the joining films 40 and 41, etc. are formed at upper and lower faces of each vibrator 20.

[0015] The exciting electrode film 80 being one pole of the vibrator piece 110 is extended and connected to the joining film 40 formed at the frame-shaped portion 100, and the exciting electrode film 81 being the another pole of the vibrator piece 110 is extended and connected to the joining film 41 formed at the frame-shaped portion 100. Further the joining film 41 is extended to the surface of the opposite side of the vibrator 20 through the end portion side face 121 of short direction of the frame-shaped portion 100 at the base end portion side of the vibrator piece 110 of the vibrator 20. At least a part of the joining film 40 and the joining film 41 formed at both faces of the vibrator 20 are formed so as to surround the periphery of the hollow cavities 90 of the lid 10 and the base 30 respectively at the both sides. Thus, inside of the hollow cavities 90 is sealed airtightly after joining.

[0016] At this stage, an electrode pattern 160 of each vibrator 20 is independent as FIG. 4 and it is possible to adjust characteristic of the vibrator using the ejecting electrode 50 different from the joining film 40 in pole. At this stage, adjusting frequency of the vibrator piece 110 is carried out.

[0017]FIG. 5(A) to FIG. 5(D) are the conventional partial process flows. In the method, a foreign body is stuck on the joining film 40 (or 41) at forming film of foundations 200 as shown in FIG. 5(B) and at laser trimming of a weight 210 at adjusting frequency as shown in FIG. 5(D). By the existence of the foreign body, a gap generates between the lid 10 and the joining film 40, or the base 30 and the joining film 41 at anode junction, and further junction between the lid 10 and the joining film 40, or the base 30 and the joining film 41 is disturbed.

[0018] However, in the above method, characteristic after junction has dispersion by contaminant of foreign body generating at forming film process for adjusting frequency of the vibrator and laser trimming.

[0019] Further, dispersion of characteristic generates even by electric resistance value which each short spattered film has and generation of level difference caused by the short spattered film.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In view of such the circumstances, an object of the invention is to provide a uniform electrode structure not having difference level at junction face and having low resistance value.

[0021] The invention solving the above problems is characterized by having a step forming an external form shape of a vibrator piece constructing a vibrator and a frame at periphery of the vibrator piece, a process forming a first exciting electrode at the vibrator piece, a process forming a weight separating from the first exciting electrode at the vibrator piece, a process adjusting characteristic of the vibrator, a process pealing off the first exciting electrode, a process forming a metal film at the surface of the vibrator, and a process patterning the metal film and forming a second exiting electrode.

[0022] Junction enable to obtain a vibrator having stable characteristic is possible by forming again the electrode pattern including the joining film and by removing contaminant stuck at the surface and disturbing junction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the piezo-electric vibrator according to the related art;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a top view of the vibrator 20 according to the related art;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the piezo-electric vibrator according to the related art and the invention;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process after forming an electrode of the related art;

[0027]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a crystal wafer according to the related art;

[0028]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a crystal wafer after forming a spattered film according to the related art;

[0029]FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process after forming an electrode of the invention; and

[0030]FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a crystal wafer according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] A method for manufacturing a piezo-electric vibrator according to the invention is characterized by having a step forming an external form shape of a vibrator piece and a frame at periphery of the vibrator piece, a process forming a first exciting electrode at the vibrator piece, a process forming a weight separating from the first exciting electrode at the vibrator piece, a process adjusting characteristic of the vibrator, a process pealing off the first exciting electrode, a process forming a metal film at the surface of the vibrator, and a process patterning the metal film and forming a second exiting electrode.

[0032] Further, a method for manufacturing a piezo-electric vibrator according to the invention is characterized by having a step forming plural vibrator pieces of vibrators and an external form of a frame, a process forming a weight and a first exciting electrode at each surface of plural vibrator pieces, a process forming a frame electrode separating from the first exciting electrode at the surface of each frame of the plural vibrator pieces, a process adjusting characteristic of the vibrators, a process pealing off the first exciting electrode and the frame electrode, a process forming a metal film at the surface of the vibrators and the frame so as to conduct between the adjacent frames, and a process patterning the metal film and forming a second exiting electrode and the joining film connected electrically to the second exiting electrode.

[0033] Further, the invention is characterized in that materials and shapes of the first exciting electrode and the second exiting electrode are the same.

[0034] Thus, by reforming the exciting electrodes and joining films, it is possible to remove foreign body at joining face and to adjust characteristic of each vibrator, and moreover resistance value between joining films decreases so as to obtain a good vibrator in yield and characteristic.

[0035] The invention will be described referring drawings in detail below. In the invention, manufacturing is carried out by a process flow as shown in FIG. 7. A frame electrode 38 and exciting electrodes 80 and 81 are formed at surface of a vibrator 20 as shown in FIG. 7(A). The frame electrode (not shown) is formed even at rear face of the vibrator 20 here.

[0036] Next, foundation 200 of a weight is formed at the tip end of the vibrator 20 by spattering and the like at FIG. 7(B). A weight 210 is formed at the tip end of the vibrator 20 of the foundation 200 at FIG. 7(C). The frame electrode 38 exists at the frame portion of the vibrator, and applying voltage and exciting the vibrator piece to vibrate the vibrator 20.

[0037] Then, laser trimming carries out adjusting frequency and adjusting temperature characteristic of the vibrator at FIG. 7(D).

[0038] Next, the frame electrode 38 and the exciting electrodes 80 and 81 are pealed off remaining the weight 210 and the foundation 200 as shown in FIG. 7(E). A metal film 220 consisting of Al is formed at whole face of the vibrator 20 by spattering as shown in FIG. 7(F). Finally, patterning the metal film and the exciting electrode 80 is formed at surface of the vibrator piece and the joining film 40 is formed at surface of the frame of the vibrator as shown in FIG. 7(G). Here, the joining film 40 is connected electrically to the exciting electrode 80 and works as a part of an electrode. According to this method, foreign bodies sticking at the frame electrode 38 and the exciting electrodes 80 and 81 at forming the foundation 200 and the like and laser trimming of the weight 210 are removed at pealing off the frame electrode film 38 so as to forma joining film newly. Thus, a gap caused by the foreign body does not appear so that good junction is possible.

[0039] The joining films 40 and 41 formed individually for anode junction are shorted as shown in FIG. 6 after forming each of the vibrator 20, the lid 10, and the base 30 on the wafer in the related art. On the contrary, the joining film previously shorted is formed newly by the process as shown in FIG. 7 in the invention. Thus, a pattern as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained. Here, although the frame electrode and the exciting electrodes 80 and 81 are pealed off once as shown in FIG. 7(E), it is necessary to select material so as not to peal off the weight for adjusting frequency. In the embodiment, Al is used for the electrode film 220 and Au and Cr are used for the weight 210.

[0040] By using the joining film 40 previously shorted in such a way, electric resistance having generated between the vibrators 20 at short spattering is removed so that electric resistance of the joining film 40 in the wafer becomes low. Thus, there is not dispersion of resistance on face in the wafer so that it is possible to carry out junction low in voltage at anode junction and uniform and good junction.

[0041] After finishing the junction, a sectional structure of the piezo-electric vibrator becomes the structure like FIG. 8 even in the embodiment similarly as the related art. That is, after finishing the junction, leading electrodes 60 and 61 are formed to surface of the base 30 from the base end side face of the short direction of the base 30 through an inner wall face of a through-hole 120 by forming a metal consisting of Cr, Au, etc. for example using part spattering and the like. The leading electrode 60 is provided contacting the joining film 40, and the leading electrode 61 is provided contacting the joining film 41.

[0042] Further, three sheets of wafer are joined and the integrated joined wafer is cut mechanically at the predetermined position using technique of dicing saw and the like so as to complete the individual crystal vibrator.

[0043] As described above, in the invention, junction enables to obtain good vibrator in yield and characteristic is possible by forming again the exciting electrode including the joining film and by removing foreign body stuck at the surface and decreasing the resistance value between the joining films by adjusting characteristics of each vibrator. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for manufacturing a piezo-electric vibrator comprising: a step forming an external form shape of a vibrator piece constructing a vibrator and a frame at periphery of the vibrator piece; a process forming a first exciting electrode at the vibrator piece, a process forming a weight separating from the first exciting electrode at the vibrator piece; a process adjusting characteristic of the vibrator; a process pealing off the first exciting electrode; a process forming a metal film at the surface of the vibrator; and a process patterning the metal film and forming a second exiting electrode.
 2. A method for manufacturing a piezo-electric vibrator comprising: a step forming plural vibrator pieces of vibrators and an external form of a frame; a process forming a weight and a first exciting electrode at each surface of plural vibrator pieces; a process forming a frame electrode separating from the first exciting electrode at the surface of each frame of the plural vibrator pieces; a process adjusting characteristic of the vibrators; a process pealing off the first exciting electrode and the frame electrode; a process forming a metal film at the surface of the vibrators and the frame so as to conduct between the adjacent frames; and a process patterning the metal film and forming a second exiting electrode and the joining film connected electrically to the second exiting electrode.
 3. A method for manufacturing a piezo-electric vibrator according to claim 1, wherein the process adjusting characteristic of the vibrator is to trim the weight.
 4. A method for manufacturing a piezo-electric vibrator according to claim 1, wherein material of the first exciting electrode is Al and material of the weight is Au and Cr.
 5. A method for manufacturing a piezo-electric vibrator according to claim 1, wherein materials and shapes of the first exciting electrode and the second exciting electrode are the same.
 6. A method for manufacturing a piezo-electric vibrator according to claim 2, wherein the process adjusting characteristic of the vibrator is to trim the weight. 